Originally Posted By allygator206 What do you guys think; Howard Johnson or Park Place Inn & Suites? My twin sister and I (We're 20) are going on our first Disney vacation without mom and dad's money. We usually stay at the Disneyland hotel, but hey, I'm a college student. We probably won't spend much time in the hotel and I'd like to stay at a hotel that promotes as much Disney spirit as possible. I know hojo is a little cheaper(80 bucks for cheaper for 4 nights), but Park Place is closer. Between the two, what do you guys prefer?
Originally Posted By dzy76 The pool area is nicer at Hojo (if you use it) but the walk is a couple minutes shorter at PPI (your young though). I think the rooms may be a little bigger at Hojo? Otherwise I think they are both good choices. But I'd go with cheaper!
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Go with cheaper! You guys can have a few really nice meals with that price difference!
Originally Posted By hlbtimes2 Go cheaper. Doesnt sound like you will be spending that much time in your room. And you really can't go wrong with hojo's, its one of the favorites in the area.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ <a href="http://www.hojoanaheim.com/laughingplace/" target="_blank">http://www.hojoanaheim.com/lau ghingplace/</a>
Originally Posted By Horse Crazy When considering what's cheaper... do you eat breakfast? At Best Western Park Place Inn & Suites you get a free continental breakfast each morning (not a lot of variety, but it's free). I don't believe HoJo's offers this. That could add up too...
Originally Posted By roberts1398 Here are the factors for me: Pool: Hojo's Close: BWPPI Breakfast: BWPPI (unless you get a muffin at Mimi's or bring your own breakfast for the room) Price: depends. With BWPPI, be sure you check their own website <a href="http://www.parkplaceinnandminisuites.com/" target="_blank">http://www.parkplaceinnandmini suites.com/</a> and the BW website <a href="http://www.bestwestern.com/" target="_blank">http://www.bestwestern.com/</a> and kingdomtravel.com for the best prices. Hojo's best prices seem to be on their website hojoanaheim.com, and you might ask about an Entertainment card rate for your dates (call them), as those tend to be around $50/nite. If you don't have a card, you can buy an Entertainment book online for about half price this late (only about half the year left on the books right now), and save far more than the cost of a book.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^^Beware, HoJo's might not have any rooms left at the entertainment book rate.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I haven't heard of anyone getting a $50 Entertainment rate in about a year now.
Originally Posted By drawbridge I've stayed at both and vote for HoJo all the way. When we stayed at BWPPI we got a room at the very end of the hotel away from Harbor - the walk was as far as it would have been to HoJo. We also didn't like having the outside corridors. Loud groups would cut through the parking lot and car headlights came through our room at night (first floor room). I know this is a popular hotel, mostly for its location, but we just thought the rooms were small and dark. The pool was not enjoyable, small and in the parking lot. The grounds and pools are very nice at Hojos. Their staff is wondeful, closer to Disney style service and the rooms are clean and bright and maybe you can get a balcony. With the money you save buy some fruit, muffins and drinks for your fridge from the mini mart and theres your continental breakfast right in your own room. Just my .02 but its no contest!
Originally Posted By jacobsmom I haven't stayed at HOJO for about 6 years so I don't know if it's renovated or not. I thought BWPPI was very nice. WE also had the room on the 2nd floor as far back as possible. It was a very long walk but on the plus side. We had no noise at all and didn't wake up to everyone in the shower or jumping kids from upstairs. I enjoyed that very much for a motel. Good luck!
Originally Posted By junglejoy I am a HoJo's fan. The pools are great, grounds lovely, the rooms are larger, more light - just happier and prettier. BWPPI the rooms are dark, dirty (my socks were FILTHY from walking around the room) and the bathrooms full of old, moldy tile, the tub didn't drain-just not a nice experience at all. I did enjoy the breakfast, but we eat cereal in our room at HoJo's, so that isn't a big factor. I was surprised at how much I didn't like BWPPI after all the positive reviews here. It was just gross. Not to mention they overcharged our credit card and we still haven't been able to resolve it. And the pool - icky. We say HoJo's all the way. We've stayed there many times - always a great time. Oh, and parking is so much easier at HoJo's.
Originally Posted By LacyBelle That sock story's pretty gross, junglejoy. I've developed a phobia of hotels and germs over the years. Must be those TV shows that go into hotels with those CSI lights and show all the bodily fluids staining the bedspreads, carpets, what-have-you. I now take slippers with me when I travel. I just can't walk around a 'foreign' room in my bare or stocking feet. I think I'm becoming a little OCD as I age.
Originally Posted By 4Disnee I totally understand both of you junglejoy and LacyBelle, There is nothing worse than staying in a dirty hotle. I really creeps me out. We stayed in a nasty hotel in Chester CA for my BIL's wedding and the MIL booked the hotel. I was really bad mold all over in the bathroom. Shag carpet in the room and it had flooded so there was still mud in it. The couch and chairs were gross. That did it for me! We the next day we got the heck out of there and went home. I also have a phoba for nasty hotels now that my skin is crawling yuck. Thanks for the heads up on the Hotels. Every little extra inside helps! I have never stayed at either place we have only stayed at the DL ones and The Candy Cane. Thank goodness so far they have been clean when we have stayed there.
Originally Posted By Horse Crazy I can only speak from my own experiance, and I have only stayed once in BWPPI last October. It was very clean, every day the maids did an excellant job cleaning our room. The carpet was not dirty, and we enjoyed our room very much. We stayed in the middle section, 2nd floor. It was not noisy at all, I never heard anyone else. We didn't use the pool, so can't comment on it. The staff was very helpful. We absolutely LOVED the location! It was wonderful to have such a short walk back at the end of the day when our feet were so tired. For our family of four, this place was perfect. I have not stayed anywhere else, so I can't compare hotels. But, I didn't want BWPPI to get to bad of a rap, it was great for us!
Originally Posted By Horse Crazy I meant, I have not stayed in any other hotel in Anaheim! I've been in many other hotels of course. BWPPI is great in my opinion for a clean, close hotel to Disneyland.
